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Thaksin: Hero or demon?

Al Jazeera's David Hawkins finds the ousted PM is still supported by many Thais.

04 Feb 2007 09:14 GMT

In today's political drama, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is cast as the bad guy [Al Jazeera]

But for many Thais - maybe most - Thaksin isn't a villain. He's still their hero.

Enduring popularity

When Al Jazeera's David Hawkins travelled to Thaksin's political heartland in Thailand's north to see how much support remains for the former prime minister amongst the rural poor who voted him into power, the results were surprising.

Khankaew Wutisin, a fruit vendor said: "I'm a poor person. Thaksin made us feel important, like we had a voice."

Saenjan Wora-on, a shopper, said: "The good thing about Thaksin was he helped people. He gave us a healthcare scheme. He paid Thailand's national debt. No one else can do the things that he did."

"I want him to come back [and] I don't think this government will be around long"

Tong Panchompu, trishaw driver in Thailand

Tong Panchompu, a trishaw driver, said: "I want him to come back. I don't think this government will be around long."

Thaksin is especially popular in Chiang Mai. After all, it's his hometown. But he won two national elections, both times by a landslide.

For sign painter Charin Jompo those were good times - the martial law imposed by the army has hurt business, he says.

Jompo said: "We don't do any political work anymore. We'd get into trouble."

He's thrown away all his pro-Thaksin banners, but the ex-prime minister's picture still hangs on the wall.

"We've had more than 20 prime ministers, but no one made a difference like Thaksin", Jompo said.

Corruption alleged

But Thaksin's detractors say he's still a corrupt and conniving political opportunist.

Panitan Wannatayagorn, a political analyst, said: "Hitler was popular, you know. Mussolini was popular. Marcos was popular, you know. Fidel Castro was popular - is popular still today. Some of these people are good. Some are not good. Thaksin is essentially falling into that category."